Interview with Ndioba Diene, techincal counsellor of the ministry of agriculture of Senegal. The interview was done right after the forum on agriculture in Africa held in Rome by UN agency, Unido, last Tuesday 28 June 2011.
What do you think Italy can bring to the development of agriculture in Senegal and in Africa?
Well first I want to say that Italy is a partner since longtime. Since 10 years Italy is an agriculture partner of Senegal in the south of the country, in the region of Sédhiou, and also in the north of the country, in the region of Matam. Today Italy has consolidated its cooperation activities with Senegal in the north and also it diversified its activities in the region of Kolda, in the south, and in the centre of the country in the regions of Kaolack and Kaffrine. This means 30 million euros for these regions to develop irrigation and the business. This is a cooperation that we appreciate very much.
During this forum it has been said that Africans needs to think about agriculture as a business, not just as a tool for living. Isn’t this a mistake?
Not at all. I think, as I said earlier in my presentation, we need a break. What’s the break? It is to change the rural economy. What is this? It is to make agriculture a business, a commercial matter. Senegal understood this voting an orientation act which makes agriculture a job and which promote agriculture business and the private sector in agriculture.
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We are very much imbedded in the peanut industry in the United States, Argentina, china, india and Europe. Could I obtain the contact information of the Ministere of Agriculture in Senegal to open a dialog about our plans in the peanut industry in Senegal.
Best Regards,
Ben Powell